“I have a question for you, when we’re done with this,” said one of my fifth-grade religious education students today. I admired his mature ability to discern that asking his question right then would have disrupted the flow of what we were talking about.
When we finished our lesson on The Lord’s Prayer, I returned to Keyontay and his question: “Who are you going to vote for for president?”
Gulp! I have learned the hard way that there are some questions you don’t answer directly in religious education class. This is one of them.
Searching for a good answer that wouldn’t seem evasive, this is what I said (Whenever I come home with some delicate question a religious ed student has come up with, Michael’s next question to me is always, “Well, what did you say?”, so I’ll save you asking.): “I’m not going to tell you who I’m voting for, except to say that the person I wanted to vote for is no longer running. But, here’s a more important question: Why would you vote for whoever you’re voting for? I think you have to look at two things when you’re voting for a president. First, what kind of person is this? Is he honest? Can he be trusted? Has she shown herself to be wise? What a person is like in personal affairs will have a bearing on how he acts in public life. Second, is this person qualified for the job? Does this person have the experience, wisdom, and skills that are needed to do the things a president is called on to do? “
Nobody argued with that. I heard a few “I’d vote for Obama” comments, and then class was over. (Whew!)
So, what did I leave out? That’s my question for you.
I can’t add anything to what you answered. The whole response was measured and non-evasive. Implicit in your response is what I try to teach my Govt/Econ students–it is not enough to vote, we must strive to cast an informed vote.
I don’t think you left anything out. Although, I would be very interested in hearing more of their thinking about what you shared with them.
Chuck’s “casting an informed vote” is great. The question there, is how does one truly become informed.
I can’t rely entirely on the candidate’s website. I can’t rely entirely on media accounts of a candidate’s record or speeches. In the end, I can only gather so much information (all from very biased sources) and make the best decision I can.
With that “informed” might mean the extent to which we are able to gather enough information to convince ourselves into believing we are making the right choice.
Ugh.
Re: your comment, Rob: One thing that helped me in the last election cycle was reading up on things written about/by the candidates BEFORE they were running for president. Not always easy to find, but if they are to be gotten, they are worth the search, I think. Haven’t really done that this time around, since it seems we may well be in the “lesser of two evils” boat come November. That is when it is even more important to look at the races on down the ticket–congressional, even state and local–I think.
I’ve found God’s Word to be exactly what He promised it would be–the standard by which I judge all things. Once I have researched, then viewed that research through the lens of Scripture, God’s Spirit bears witness with my spirit. In its basest esssence, it is about God. The question then comes, “why vote at all then?” In the light of Romans 13, as a Christian, I am instructed to be a good citizen of whatever country I’ve been placed. As an American, I have the right/privilege of voting. I must cast an informed vote.